KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — Up and coming rapper Tang Eu-Jin is a Gen-Y musician who subscribes to freedom of speech but abhors mindless lyrics as a publicity stunt, especially in the form of rap music.

The eldest son of entrepreneurs, Tang who goes by the stage name Jin Hackman came under the spotlight after his catchy video Jin Hackman 2014 Malaysian Rap Up became popular.

Tang started his career in 2009, releasing his first year-end wrap-up video on YouTube. It was a “small-time effort” done with whatever little resources the enterprising lad could muster up back then.

It did not get many hits and became just another video of an aspiring rapper. However, despite having limited funding, he carried on doing similar wrap-ups year after year, with his best being a rap video he made two years ago in collaboration with TAPAUtv, an independent music video producer behind several local music bigwigs including Yuna.

The video garnered over 52,000 views while his latest video raked in more than 24,000 viewers and counting.

Unlike many other musicians who head to foreign lands to test the waters there after carving a name for themselves here, this 28-year-old who is fast gaining attention is pretty much rooted to his homeground, and aspires to provide a platform for promising talents like himself to be heard and recognised.

Tang who is also an independent gig organiser is the brain behind Raising the Bar, a monthly hip hop fest which polls aspiring and established rap artists to showcase their talent and be recognised.

The Monash University alumni is aiming to make the Made in Malaysia label a symbol of pride and class by starting his own record label and signing up Malaysian rappers as he believes there is a treasure trove of talent in his own backyard, enough to “rock the world.”

For this to happen, he believes freedom of speech and expression plays an important role, especially for rap music.

In his own words:

  • What’s happening in the country now with the Sedition Act crackdown and stifling of freedom of speech and expression is not stopping the progress of the hip hop scene. This is the age where people pick or rather choose what they want to watch or listen and if they don’t like it, they put it aside.
  • I was more worried about the Bung Mokhar reference in my 2014 rap. We were even contemplating if we should bleep out his name, alongside all those things about Perkasa, but all these including the reference on The Wolf of Wall Street… were all facts. Eighty per cent were just facts. Only 20 per cent is opinion based and I don’t see any wrong in that as it is just reminding people of what happened.
  • I haven’t been arrested yet so I guess that’s okay.
  • I did think about the Sedition Act, especially this year because of the known cases and honestly I toned down this year. There is a lot of controversial stuff I could have put into my music but I just had to tone it down. In comparison, if you listen to my previous rap ups, it was more vocal, but this year it’s more tame and also because of all the tragedies that took place, we went with a darker approach.
  • I want to continue organising Raising the Bar. I want to take it to a more regional level, to every country to provide people with an avenue to speak their mind. Freedom to speak in a no-holds-barred musical way.
  • With rap, there will be some cringe-worthy moments but at the end of the day it’s you as an artist and at the end of the day, it’s about self-expression.
  • I don’t think anyone should hold back because of our censorship culture. It’s about speaking your mind and not get busted for it… be smart about how you say it. There are a million ways to express.
  • Alvin Tan? What has he done? What he did was not in good taste and was uncalled for. I am not on his side or hate him but it’s crazy that things like this make headlines. Namewee on the other hand was very smart about things. He created controversy but he used it to his advantage and is now making movies. I would like to work with him some day. I don’t consider him a rapper but I respect him for having balls.
  • Comparatively, I don’t think I’m that controversial. No one seems to have problems with my work or rally any hate comments. There has been instances where people accuse me of being pro-Opposition and it’s sad that people can’t appreciate music as it is.
  • Hidden agenda. That’s the word. They often claim that I have a hidden agenda with my work. I don’t really care about these people. No one has ever told me I am seeking cheap publicity. My music is done in a classy way. I don’t do videos to say I hate this guy and that guy.